Educational top.



No. 658,358. Patented Sept. 25; I900. W. R. ELLIS.

EDUCATIONAL TOP.

(Applieafinn flied. Dec. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILSON R. ELLIS, OF LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA.

EDUCATIONAL Top.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,358, dated September 25, 1960.

Application filed December 18.1899. Serial No. 740,798. (llo model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILSON R. ELLIS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Livermore, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Educational Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved top or similar spinning device exhibiting words orv other symbols which are rearranged in fresh combinations by the successive operation of the top, and thereby aiford instruction or amusement. Byusingsuitably-seleoted words the device is .adapted to present a new sentence at each operation of spinning, and thus will be found useful in teaching children to read. Moreover,the top is preferably arranged so that two such sentences are so presented simultaneouslyand the words forming such sentences are so selected, both as to rhythm and as to rhyme, that the two sentences form a rhyming conplet.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of my improved top. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the disks, the upper part of the top being removed; and Fig. 4 is a perspective of the stop-bolt.

1 represents the top, which has a hollow body mounted on a spindle 2. In said body is secured a horizontal partition'3, and on said partition are laid disks 4 one above the other, each centrally apertured to permit the spindle 2 to pass loosely therethrough, and the disks 4 and partition 3 have each a circular series of equidistant holes '5, all the series being precisely alike. Upon the margin of each disk are symbols 6, corresponding in number to the holes 5, and each disk projects a sufficient distance beyond the one above it to permit the symbols on its margin to be visible from above, and for this purpose the upper side of the top has a series of slots 7 over the margin of the respective disks, each slot disclosing only one of the symbols'on the disk, so that the complete series of slots discloses a combination of said symbols.

8 is a bolt which is supported by an arm 9 on a sleeve 10, loosely surrounding the spindle 2, and said bolt normally passes through one of the holes 5 in each of the disks 4: and the partition 3 and locks the disks and partition in the proper position,so that the symbols thereon show through said slots. 10 has above the top-body a vane 11, which also serves 'asa finger-piece, and when the operator'takes hold of said vane. to liftthe top he thereby raises the bolt 8 out of engagement The sleeve with all of the holes 5, so that the disks can then revolve loosely around thespindle 3. The operator will retain his hold of the fingerpiece while spinning the top but upon placing the spindle-point of the rotating top upon a table or similar support and releasing the finwill by reason of its motion relative to the top rotate all the disks more or-less around the top,and so present through the slots 7 anew combination of symbols. If suitable words are placed on the margin of the disks,the combination of words will form sentences. Thus on the uppermost disk will be placed a list of adjectival words, as the jumping, the silly; on the next disk 2. series of nouns, as soldier, gander on the next a series of verbs, as scares, hugs; and on the next aIseries of nouns, as dog, frog. By providing two series of four slots 7 diametrally opposed to each other two sentences appear at the same time. Moreover, by making all the words on the same disk to have the same metrical rhythm and diametrallyopposite words von the lowest disk to rhyme, as dog, g, u p u -,7, the two sentences form a rhyming couplet.

I claim 1. In a device of the character. described, the combination of a series of superposed coaxial disks having a series of symbols arranged in progressively-increasing circles, a cover for all the disks having a series of apertures lying respectively over the series of symbols on each disk and each disclosing one symbol therethrough, means for rotating the disks relatively to each other and to the cover,

and means for arresting the disks in such a position that onesymbolin each. disk appears through anurap'erture in the cover; substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a series of superposed coaxial disks, having registering circular series of apertures, and having-series of symbolslarranged in progressively-increasing circles, a cover for all the disks having a seriesof apertures, lying respectively over the series of symbols on each disk and each disclosing one symbol therethrough, means .for rotating the disks relatively to each other, and a bolt arranged to be released from said aperturesbe-- fore rotating the disks, and successively enteringn apertures. in :the respective disksrasthe latterrotatei to lock..the sameysubstane tially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of superposed coaxial disks,

having registering circular series of apertures and having series of symbols arranged inprogressively-increasing circles, a cover for all the disks having a serieswofiapertures' lying respectively over the series of'symbols on each disk and .eachdisclosing. one .symbol therethrough,.means forrotating the disks relatively to each other, and a gravity-bolt moving at right angle to thedisks and successively entering the apertures thereinto lock the same, substantially as described.

4. In a deviceof the character described,

the combination of superposed coaxial disks,

having series of symbols arranged in progr'essively-increasingcircles, a cover for all the disks having a plurality of series of apertures, the apertures of each series lying respectively over. the series of symbols oneach disk and each disclosing onesymbol there through;- meausfor rotating the disks respectively toleach other and to the cover, and means for arresting the disks in such a position that onetsymbol on each-diskappears through each aperture in the cover, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand in the presence of two subscribing witnessesr WILSON R. ELLIS.

Witnesses FRANCIS lll'm WRIGHT, 1 M. R. DANIELS. 

